6. Olfactory Discrimination Flashcards
1
Q
What experiment did you perform?
A
Olfactory Discrimination experiment
• I smelled + tried one essential oil, and after 30-60 sec, my partner would change the oil w/out telling me
• I had to let them know if I could tell the difference b/w the two smells
2
Q
What is the Physiology behind olfaction?
A
• When odorants (odor molecules) reach the nose, they diffuse into a mucus layer in the roof of the nose + bind to membrane-bound receptor proteins, which activate olfactory receptor neurons
• Axons from these neurons project up to the olfactory bulb, where olfactory signals are processed + interpreted
3
Q
What are you testing for?
A
Discrimination b/w specific smells that have a few diff odorant molecules but many in common
